Compare 2018 VW Tiguan vs Ford Escape | Merrillville, IN

Serving Merrillville, IN, Crown Point, and Hobart

With the crossover arguably being the most popular type of vehicle around, some customers prefer one that is small-sized without compromising on roominess and overall efficiency. To this end, Volkswagen and Ford provide the Tiguan and the Escape, respectively. Preceding its VW counterpart by more than half a decade, the Ford Escape has steadily risen as one of America’s best-selling compact crossover SUVs due to its ability to combine affordability, versatility, and styling into a very attractive package. However, by 2018, the Tiguan has been refined to the extent of legitimately challenging the Escape for the hearts of the buying public. In fact, it surpasses the Ford offering in a few aspects.

Specs

2018 Volkswagen Tiguan

2018 Ford Escape

Horsepower

184 horsepower

168 horsepower

Torque

221 lb-ft

170 lb-ft

Standard Engine

2.0-liter TSI®

2.5-liter

Fuel Economy (City/Hwy)**

22 city / 27 hwy mpg**

21 city / 29 hwy mpg**

Transmission

8-Speed w/ Sport Mode

6-Speed Automatic

Seating Accommodation

As compact crossover vehicles, both the 2018 Tiguan and 2018 Escape come with two rows of seats to seat up to five people. However, it’s worth noting that the Tiguan can actually seat more than the Escape. Indeed, the base-level S trim is actually a three-row vehicle, thus bumping up maximum occupancy to seven. And even though Tiguan models with VW’s 4MOTION® all-wheel-drive system have the standard two-row configuration, you can opt for a third row.

Interior

Also, the 2018 VW Tiguan has the upper hand in terms of overall interior size and furnishings. With the Tiguan, you get up to 123.9 cubic feet in passenger space—a far cry from the 98.7 cubic feet of passenger space that the 2018 Ford Escape offers. At the base level, both vehicles have six-speaker audio for entertainment, infotainment integrating technology (MirrorLink on the Tiguan and SYNC on the Escape), a rearview camera for monitoring reverse driving and parallel parking, and Bluetooth technology for hands-free phone operation and audio streaming. However, the Tiguan has an additional 6.5-inch touchscreen, as well as Android Auto and Apple CarPlay for executing infotainment features with your smartphone; you’d need to upgrade in trim on the Escape to get such features.

Ride Quality and Performance

For those who value smoothness over sportiness, the 2018 VW Tiguan is an easy choice over the 2018 Ford Escape. With its strut front suspension and multi-link rear suspension, the Tiguan easy absorbs road imperfections. And the electric power-assisted rack-and-pinion steering provides sharp handling around corners. Overall, the 2018 Tiguan is supremely suited for cruising.

Lastly, the base 2018 VW Tiguan absolutely topples the Ford Escape in terms of engine power. With a smaller 2.0-liter motor, the Tiguan pumps out a massive 184 horsepower and 221 lb-ft of torque. The Escape falls significantly short at 168 horsepower and 170 lb-ft of torque from a larger 2.5-liter motor. With the Tiguan just barely falling short on fuel efficiency, it more than makes up for it in terms of power can capability.

Test Drive Today!

Convinced that the 2018 VW Tiguan is the vehicle to get over the 2018 Ford Escape? At our dealership in Merrillville, Indiana, we take great pride in providing a large collection of vehicles to choose from, in addition to having a staff dedicated to ensuring that you have a memorable experience. Call us today to set up an appointment with one of our experienced and well-qualified sales professionals.

*MSRP excludes destination, taxes, title and registration fees. Starting at price refers to the base model, optional equipment not included. A more expensive model may be shown. Pricing and offers may change at any time without notification. To get full pricing details, see your dealer.